Transonic flows of dense gases over finite wings

Transonic inviscid flows of dense gases of the Bethe-Zel'dovich-Thompson (BZT) type over finite wings are numerically investigated. BZT gases are fluids of the retrograde type (i.e., that superheat when expanded), which exhibit a region of negative values of the fundamental derivative of gas dynamics Gamma. As a consequence, they display, in the transonic and supersonic regime, nonclassical gas dynamic behaviors, such as rarefaction shock waves and mixed shock/fan waves. The peculiar properties of BZT fluids have received increased interest in recent years because of their possible application in energy-conversion cycles. The present research aims at providing insight about the transonic aerodynamics of BZT fluids past finite wings, roughly representative of isolated turbine blades with infinite tip leakage. This represents an important step toward the design of advanced turbine blades by using organic working fluids. An investigation of the flow patterns and aerodynamic performance for several choices of the upstream thermodynamic conditions is provided, and the advantages of using BZT working fluids instead of classical ones are discussed. (C) 2008 American Institute of Physics.